Chapter 8
Later that afternoon, Sarah went to visit Medda to see when she could start practicing and what she would need to do. The rest of the Newsies headed to Tibby's, Spot came in and sat himself down in a booth, next to Maddie.
"Maddie you'se got a minute or two? I'se gotta talk some tings trough wit cha' Spot replied in a hushed tone.
"Sure." Maddie replied timidly, knowing she didn't have much of a choice, since it was more like a demand then a question. Maddie told Takoda she'd be back shortly and then her, and Spot headed out of Tibby's, and walked a few blocks.
Once it was safe to speak with no interruption, Spot began talking "Well ya know last night when me and Sarah were out on da fire escape…" Maddie stood silent and waited for him to continue. "Well she started talking about da… jus tell her dat her nickname is Starlight" Spot replied not wanting to get into to much detail, he figured he'd leave the explaining for Sarah, since her and Maddie were best friends.
"I suppose I could, but why Starlight?" Maddie questioned,
"She'll know." Spot replied bluntly. Maddie decided that she wouldn't press her luck with Spot, and just take that as an answer, Sarah would explain it anyway.
"Tanx Maddie, You'se know da way back ta Tibby's?"
"Yup, I've been hear long enough havn't I?." Spot smirked and replied "I'm gonna head back ta Brooklyn den, I'se gotta check on me boys." With that he trotted off, in the opposite direction and headed for Brooklyn.
" This should be interesting…especially with those two, things are bound to heat up." Maddie thought, she smiled shook her head, and headed back to Tibby's.
"
Later that evening, Sarah met up with Maddie in the bunkroom. "I have another surprise for you' Maddie replied,
"What is it?" Sarah asked excitedly. "Seems like you got yourself a new nickname." Maddie said grinning impishly.
"What do you mean? How?" Sarah asked.
"It's pretty self-explanatory." Maddie replied.
"By who?" Sarah asked excitedly.
"Oh, just a certain someone." Maddie replied knowing, she was driving Sarah crazy, for jumping around the topic.
"Maddie just tell me!" Sarah persisted throwing a pillow at Maddie.
"Calm down Starlight!" Maddie replied.
"Starlight?"
"Yup Starlight, or Star for short." Maddie said grinning approvingly.
"But who would give me that name?" Suddenly it clued in, and Starlight's eyes widened in shock surprise, which was quickly replaced by a look of lust. Star sighed and sank onto the nearest bunk.
"Care to explain?" Maddie questioned. 'After all Spot didn't give too much detail, and I want to know!" Maddie exclaimed.
"Last night…we were talking about the stars, and how the majority of them, were seen by so many people from the past, or will be seen by the many generations to come…" Star trailed of softly and continued. "And how they have that glimmer, and light to them that never seems to fade." Star replied.
"Well he's quite the charmer." Maddie replied.
"Ye, he is" Sarah answered. "What's Takoda think of you?'
"Well he said once, that he thought he loved me' Maddie said.
"Now isn't that romantic?" Sarah replied, smiling.
"Sarah, tomorrow we talk, tonight we sleep' Maddie arranged.
Sarah and Maddie got ready for bed and climbed into their bunks, Maddie took out her notebook that she had been writing in since the day their adventure started, and decided to quickly write down Sarah's nickname and the events that happened that day.
While Star thought about Spot and her heart overflowed with joy, then she extinguished the light and fell asleep…
Sarah and Maddie awoke the next morning to see bright sunshine gleaming through the small window of the lodging house.
"It's a beautiful day out today' "Now where did I put my notebook?' Maddie asked.
"Right by da night table, 'Notebook' Jack replied tauntingly.
"How impudent' Maddie said, frowning.
"Hey Maddie, you're nickname's 'Notebook?' Cassie replied, "How original!'
"Well Blaze, someone has to have an 'original' name, as you so charmingly put it!' Notebook replied.
"Sarah?' "Sarah!' Blaze shouted.
"What?' Sarah asked wearily from her bunk.
"Mad's got a nickname now!' "Notebook!' Cassie shouted.
"Yeah, I guess I do' Notebook replied, flushed.
"Really? So do I! It's Starlight, or Star for short' Sarah announced, now fully awake and sitting up in her bunk.
You know what I heard 'bout two nights ago, Spot and Sarah were up on da fire escape…' Mush teased, making it sound like more then it really was.
"5 to 1 dats where she got da name from!" Race called from the washroom.
"Hey get up ya lazy bum!" Blaze shouted.
"I am up!" Star retorted.
"I mean get outta dat bunk you seem so cozy in!" Blaze replied, throwing a pillow at Star to get her out of her bunk.
Star laughed at Blaze's comment, pulled off the blankets and climbed down the ladder, and when Takoda came in Star elatedly ran up to him and without warning jumped on his back, sending him stumbling towards Maddie who was in front of her bunk, folding her nightgown. Notebook whirled around startled, to be met by Takoda's charming grin and Star's hysterical laughter. Star then jumped of Takoda's back, and with her shoulder she shoved Maddie into him. "Maddie's got a nickname now! It's Notebook!" Star replied, as she began to dance, and sing her way through the bunkroom in her white nightgown. The Newsies laughed at Star's playfulness.
"What was that all about?" Takoda asked chuckling.
"I think Spot's getting to her." Maddie replied smiling at her friend.
Takoda chuckled at the thought of it. "Ready to go Notebook?" he asked. "I don't see
why he has to call me that it's just a nickname, and we went by our proper names before."
"Ye, but could we talk about something?' Notebook asked. "About what?' Tiger asked.
"Just come with me…' Notebook planned.
Notebook led Tiger to the fire escape.
"Come on…' Notebook whispered.
"But what is this about?' Tiger asked, climbing the ladder.
"Notebook--' Tiger began, he was silenced by Notebook's hand to his lips.
"Please Takoda, don't call me that…it's just a nickname, nothing more' Notebook replied, her eyes down in a sad gesture.
"It's alright…' Tiger replied, lifting her chin to meet his dark eyes, "I know'
"What do you think life will be like after all this?' Tiger inquired.
"Oh I don't know … maybe I'll find a job as a writer and get married…you know the usual' Notebook replied.
"Whom do you have in mind of…marrying?' Tiger said rather uneasily.
"Takoda, I'm only 15, I haven't thought that far in my life!' Notebook replied, lightheartedly.
Tiger just laughed, "I guess we'll have to keep this 'naming' business to ourselves'
"In secret we will, but when with the Newsies we'll have to stick with our nicknames' Notebook agreed.
"Can we really do it?' Notebook asked, her eyes searched Tiger's dark ones.
"If we try…' Tiger answered softly. "Now let's sell these papes'
"Alright…' Notebook replied reluctantly, she could have stayed with Tiger on the fire escape all day talking to him but she knew she had a job to do.
By daybreak, Cassie, Jack and the rest of the Newsies hit the streets, to by their papes for the day.
"Headline any good?' Jack asked Cassie "No it's worse!" Cassie replied showing Jack the pape.
"Fire in farmer Brown's Barn?" Jack said with a befuddled look.
"Yupp" Cassie said straightforwardly.
"FIRE! FIRE! Hundreds flee from disaster!" "Big complication!' Jack shouted, improving the truth. Suddenly a crowd of people surrounded Jack and he sold many papes.
"Check dis out!' Cassie said.
"Alright, let's see what you've got!' Jack challenged.
"FIRE! INDA BRONX! Hundreds murdered, huge catastrophe!' Cassie called out, double as many people came to her and double as many of her papes were sold.
"That's amazin' Jack said, Cassie smiled at him mischievously and turned away.
"Come 'ere you lil champ!' Jack said, pulling her into him, and placing an enormous, playful kiss on her lips.
Kid Blink, Racetrack and Mush happened to walk by, and saw them and yelled, "Get a room Cowboy!'
Sarah, Maddie, and Takoda watched from a distance.
"What a couple!' Sarah sighed. Notebook, Star, and Tiger continued selling the rest of their papes.
"Hey dere Tiger, hows it rollin?" Spot asked as he approached the three. When Star heard the all too familiar voice, her stomach flipped, and chills jolted down her spine.
"Pretty well, and yourself?' Tiger asked.
"Had a few complications back in Brooklyn, but it's all fixed up." Spot answered.
"So what brings you to Manhattan?" Tiger asked as they began to walk.
"Jus visitin." Spot simply answered.
Although Notebook knew exactly why Spot was here, he wanted to see Starlight.
"Well Takoda wasn't there something you had to show me?" She said trying to get them away so Spot and Star could talk alone.
"I don't recall…" but before Takoda could say more Notebook, said "Hey there's Boots, let's go join him he looks a little lonely." And she grabbed his arm and they headed in the direction where Boots was calling out headlines.
Realizing what Notebook was trying to do, Star giggled to herself.
"What's so funny?" Spot questioned.
"Didn't you see what Maddie was trying to do?" Star asked. "They were trying to find an excuse to leave so we could talk alone." Sarah said chuckling. Star glanced over at Spot but saw no trace of emotion.
Spot then changed the subject "When do you start practicing at Medda's?
"I start tomorrow' Sarah said gladly.
"So ya nervous?' Spot asked.
"A little…' Sarah admitted.
"Don't be." Spot frankly stated. There was then an awkward silence between the two.
"He's so hard to read sometimes, this Brooklyn leader definitely mystifies me…he hasn't even said anything about the nickname he gave me…one minute he's the most romantic guy you'll ever know, now he seems so distant, well one of us has to say something soon, I guess it's gonna be me." "I really like that nickname you gave me, it suits me perfectly." Sarah said, as she unexpectedly embraced Spot with an enormous hug, shocked at this, Spot nervously embraced her back,
"I figured ya would' Spot said smirking proudly, pulling Sarah closer to him, and holding her tightly in his arms.
Neither of them wanted to let go of each other, but they knew they had to get back to selling their papes…